6.28.2011

Summary

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

Brianna's Opinon

A series about Greek mythology, warrior "classes", and an academy that trains its students to become warriors? COUNT ME IN!

In this series, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy after some freak-out incident with her late-blooming powers. Her power (which happens to be INCREDIBLY awesome) is known as psychometry, or the ability to know an object's history just by touching it. I've never heard of a book with the lead having that sort of power. To be honest, I haven't heard of any book that has any character, big or small, with that type of power. You have to admit: having that power would be pretty sweet, yet it would start to get annoying after a while, eh?

Here's some information on the classes in this book found on the right side of the author's website page for this series:

AMAZONS AND VALKYRIESMost of the girls at Mythos are either Amazons or Valkyries. Amazons are gifted with supernatural quickness. In gym class during mock fights, they look like blurs more than anything else. Valkyries are incredibly strong. Also, bright, colorful sparks of magic can often be seen shooting out of their fingertips. Daphne is a Valkryie,

although her magic hasn’t quickened or manifested yet.

ROMANS AND VIKINGSMost of the guys at Mythos Academy are either Romans or Vikings. Romans are super quick, just like Amazons are, while Vikings are super strong, just like Valkyries are.

SIBLINGSBrothers and sisters born to the same parents will have similar abilities and magic, but they’re sometimes classified as different types of warriors. For example, if the boys in the family are Vikings, then the girls will be Valkyries. If the boys in a family are Romans, then the girls will be Amazons.

However, in other families, brothers and sisters are considered to be the same kind of warriors, like those born to Samurai or Ninja parents. The boys and girls are both considered to be Samurais or Ninjas.

MORE MAGICAs if being super strong or super quick wasn’t good enough, the students at Mythos Academy also have other types of magic. They can do everything from heal injuries, to control the weather, to form fireballs with their bare hands. The powers vary from student to student, but as a general rule, everyone is dangerous and deadly in their own special way.

SPARTANSSpartans are the rarest of the warrior whiz kids. There are only a few at Mythos Academy and scattered throughout the world. But Spartans are the most deadly and dangerous of all the warriors because they have the ability to pick up any weapon – or any thing – and automatically know how to use and even kill with it. Even Reapers of Chaos are afraid to battle Spartans in a fair fight. But then again, Reapers rarely fight fair …

GYPSIESGypsies are just as rare as Spartans are. Gypsies are those who have been gifted with magic by the gods. But not all gypsies are good – some are just as evil as the gods they serve. Gwen is a Gypsy, although she’s not really sure where her magic comes from or why she even has it in the first place. She’s going to get the answers to her questions soon, though, and she’s not going to like what she finds out …

If it doesn't sound absolutely fantastic to you so far, then I don't know what's going to change your mind.

6.25.2011

I'm just going to take a wild swing at it and start this meme for my blog exclusively. This is the place where I tell you, "Hey. I love this book!", (the DO part of the title) and then I go, "Hey. I hated this book!". (This is the DON'T part, if you're not catching my drift.)

**WARNING**

I'm going to speak my mind. WHOA! Shocker?

LET'S BEGIN!

DO READ

Yes, I know. Brianna's cheating. Everyone loves this book, and of course, you're going to have to love this or you're just a horrible person. Yes, everyone. I know, but I have to tell you why I love it and why it's a DO READ book.

Katniss Everdeen, in my years of book experience, is probably the most awesome and STRONGEST heroine I have ever read in YA fiction. Most of the books I've read that have a female narrator go like this:

"OH MY GOD! Chris doesn't love me anymore! *crycrydonotcarecrycry* Oh wait a second. *looks out the corner of eye* I see a hot guy. He's so dark and mysterious. Did I mention dark? OH MY GOD I HAVE TO KNOW HIM! *stalks guy and he turns out to be a jerk* I loooooove hiiiiim. OH MY GOD HE'S A/AN -insert mythical creature here-! HE COULD HURT ME! He's so dreamy that I have wet dreams about him. OH MY GOSH THERE'S THIS OTHER HOT/DREAMY/ALDKGHASKLGHI GUY! *initiates love triangle* -SEQUEL COMING OUT IN 648941654 MONTHS!- (For evidence, please turn to your Fallen, Hush, Hush, and Twilight pages in the Crappy YA Manual.)

...yeah...

This one is the total opposite considering she can FREAKIN' KILL AND KICK SOME MAJOR BUTT! And she actually has somewhat of a personality where I don't have the urge to jump in the pages and tear her little throat out. She's intelligent and an excellent archery person, so naturally, with a girl that's strong enough to provide for her family and *WIN THE HUNGER GAMES, then yes. Naturally, I love her.

* = If you didn't know she won the Hunger Games, then, dude, you're BEHIND.

DON'T READ

CRIME: HAS A BEAUTIFUL COVER THAT HYPNOTIZES AND MAKES YOU PICK IT UP AND READ ITS TRASHY ATTEMPT AT A NOVEL

BRIANNA CHEATED AGAIN! THIS TECHNICALLY ISN'T A BOOK!

I'm just being mean now. Excusez-moi.

Now, sorry to say, but I couldn't even finish this book. It frustrated me SO MUCH that I had the strongest temptation of pulling my eyes out of my eye sockets so I wouldn't have to deal with anymore YA trash. I'm sorry if you read this and were drooling over cardboard-cutout Patch, but he's a big, fat JERK. If this is what I got out of reading only about two-thirds of the book, then I'm scared of my mental state if I even thought of reading the whole thing.

Just look at her friend, Vee, the doped-up idiot that enjoys getting hurt then totally doesn't learn from her mistake. Then take a look to the left, and you see her lovely fallen angel human boyfriend, Patch. He's. So. Freakin'. DREAMY that she does whatever he wants without a second thought, and even when he ASSULTS her and makes her feel worthless, all he has to do is give her the sexy face, and she gets all 'AAAAAAHHH'.

That's about all I can muster without going on a 50000-page rant like I usually do.

Oh, and I heard that Crescendo ended on the STUPIDEST. CLIFFHANGER. EVER.

I worry about you, YA. I really, really do.

This is how Nora would rob a store if she were fleshed into human existence. (If everyone from this novel was put into the real world, the world would end from the amount of stupidity. That's about it.)

"OH MY GOD! Neeeeehehhhehhaekh! *scurries* PAAATCH!"

That's it for this week's episode. Tune in next week/month/whenever-I-wanna-update to see more of Brianna's rambling. Who knows? YOUR favorite book could be torn to shreds. ;)

Why do I want it? It's a story based on the death of the two twin heroines' friend, Katelyn. Is it suicide? Accident? Murder? I guess I'll have to find out! The town by the summary sounds creepy. A.K.A: My favorite type of summary! It promises to be an awesome, unique debut YA novel!

Why do I want it? Just read the synopsis! 14th century Italy with knights and time travel? Another set of siblings are transported in the midst of a heated battle. It's the first book in the new series by Bergren. I can't wait to read this series!

Why do I want it? Awesome, awesome, awesome sounding story with a girl that sees the future. I haven't read that many YA books on psychics, especially located in New Orleans, a place I visit every year due to family. I can't wait to read an amazing-sounding book!

Why do I want it? The monsters in Gemma's nightmares are being fleshed out and are reeking havoc in her life. Not to mention that she's been emotionless and without feeling for quite a while until guy named Alex is the catalyst of electric sensations. What else could you want in a book? I want this book!

Why do I want it? It's by an Indie author, and it's about a fantasy, post-apocalyptic world where the main character, Andrina, is desperate to seek shelter. After being transported to "The New Word", she marries the King after being threatened into the relationship. But King Zarek is murdered, and she's accused of the crime. How will she endure in this new world if she's being blamed for the King's death? (I can't wait to read this book! It sounds so awesome!)

Why do I want it? A book that explores the boundaries between the human realm and the vampire realm, Sophia Pierce is relocated with her family to a town in Massachusetts. She experiences the taste of high school, regular teenage life in this town, where she meets her soul mate, Nathaniel. Will life be even more complicated with a witch buddie, a mortal boyfriend, and the overwhelming urge to suck him dry? (What more could a fantasy-loving teen want?)

Why do I want it? Ghost-hunting buddies united to kick ghost booty? I admit it, I haven't read Carrie Jones's Need, Captivate, or Entice, (And they have been on my TBR list for, like, ever.) but this is a must, must, must read. Beautiful picture with amazing, swirly font! SWIRLY FONT ALL THE WAY!

Why do I want it? Demon hunters. Ancient school. Two hundred years has passed since bad blood has spilled. Now Abby returns as the one thing the Order sweared to kill: a vampire. She's the only person that can save the Order from a mythical demon that preys on the inhabitants of the school. Will she have the strength and forgiveness to do so? I can't wait to see, because I'm definitely getting this book!

Book 11: Stay by C.C. JacksonWhy do I want it? FAIRY NOVEL ALERT! FAIRY NOVEL ALERT! I know I'm late to jump on the fairy bandwagon for YA, but I have to say that this truly sounds like an awesome fairy novel. She is kidnapped in the middle of the night by a captor that tells Callie that she's not even human. She's a fairy, and she's taken into the Fairy World, where the current queen is a cruel tyrant, and what else could make it horrible? Oh yeah. She's destined to be the kingdom's next replacement. Tragedy, mystical fairy magic, and gorgeous guys. What else would a girl love that's new to this type of subgenre? Book 12: Andrasteby Marisa Mills Why do I want it? Pure fantasy emersion. No human contact. A pure, pure fantasy realm. You have to love this type of book. You get to dive into the lives of people in a new world, and in this one, it's a mix of fairies and elves. The main character, Andraste, is the daughter of an elfen prince and a fairy queen. Interesting mix, is it not? She is the center of a prophecy that calls for the destruction of the Abatu Empire, and she's the only one that can vanquish them. Only as she digs into the prophecy, she discovers it's a well-constructed lie that is used to cover up her mother's fairy country's secrets. What will she do now? Emersion, here I come!

6.17.2011

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries oldwitch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritagewitch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan, and immediately becomes spellbound by his charms. Yet she is determinedto discover the connection between them before it’s too late.

Finally, Shiloh's met someone who is supercute andtotally into her, but Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list.And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

Itsucks to have a destiny, especially since Shiloh would rather spend her summerbeing a normal girl who worries about clothes and boys, not the supernatural.But she’s never been normal and the stranger things become the more her own magical senses awaken.

Withcryptic messages from a pesky wraith, she will begin to understand the mysterious significance of the strange markbranded on her wrist, and decide how much she's willing to sacrifice toprotect the other teenagers in town.

Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

Trailer

Giveaway 1

The author, Sherry Soule, has agreed to host a giveaway with me, and now you can win a finished copy of Beautifully Broken signed! All you have to do is FILL OUT THE FORMand you'll be entered in the contest!

6.07.2011

Look how pretty it is. I personally haven't read Clockwork Prince, unfortunately, (I'll be getting to it! Don't worry! I'm not totally out of the loop.) but you can't help but gawk over the breath-taking covers and beautiful art that is Cassandra Clare's novels. They are amazing.

6.06.2011

The Facts

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot, with many prominent residents hiding secrets and a newcomer raising eyebrows. Dragged out of boarding school, seventeen-year-old Trent Donovan and his father move back to the area and are instantly under speculation. Especially when construction on their mansion awakens an ancient evil and the vanishing of a local teenager has everyone murmuring about an old witch’s curse.

On the other side of town, sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a white witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst and meets Trent, her new-would-be-boyfriend, she discovers a wraith with an agenda. Finally, Shiloh’s met someone who is supercute and totally into her, but now it looks like Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list. And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

Brianna's Say

Okay, let me just tell you that this book looks SO good. The author, Sherry Soule, posted the excerpt on WeBook, an awesome site for writers and readers, and I was the only one to read and review on it. It's here. I was very excited to read the rest, and at that point, Soule was looking for a publisher to take her project and turn it into a published work.

Now, she found Firelight, an awesome publishing unit that bases itself on eBooks. (I'm eventually going to adapt to technology...) I'm so glad she finally got published, and now, she has lots of books she'll be writing: a new vampire series, the rest of this series, an adult series, etc. I'm super psyched she found a publishing company because she deserves to have an audience of readers like myself. All in all, I can't wait for her book to be released!